Hey! Nothing much to say really…just enjoy

ENJOY!

Four Days Later

"So can we attack?" Jerome asked, they were in the palace, in a dusty large room, alone. Jerome stood behind Mara, hands tentively massaging her shoulders, while he peered down at her work, she was sat on a chair, maps spread out before her.

"Yes," she nodded conclusively "We could, and we would win,"

Jerome smiled, and leaned down to whisper in her ear "You're a genius,"

"Not really, times just on our side,"

Jerome moved to sit opposite her, and watched her curiously. He folded his arms and leaned them on the table. "Tell me more about…'time'" he put he moved one hand up to do hand quotes on the word time, before sliding back into its normal position.

Mara watched him back, unsure "Time is the greatest teacher,"

Jerome almost smirked "Unfortunately it kills all of its students,"

"Jerome-"

"Mara," he spoke slowly, uncertainly "Do you…do you have a problem, with me…complimenting you?" he looked at her through his lashes, and looked more vulnerable than she had ever seen him.

"What?" Mara managed to choke out "What are you talking about?" she brushed some hair behind her ear, smoothing down her red shirt.

"Well," Jerome stared her right in the eyes now "Whenever I say something nice about you, you seem uncomfortable," he took a slight breath, while Mara stared at him "And normally I would put that down to me being a gorgeous, blonde, model type of guy. But with you," his stare became more intense "You're different, you know that? And, I can't help but wonder if…y-you don't like me anymore,"

It was silent for a moment.

"Jerome," Mara reached out her hand, and Jerome slid his into hers, almost timidly "It's not that-"

"Because, you don't have to stay with me out of pity."

"I love you," Mara said honestly, and Jerome's eyes widened a fraction "Where did all this come from?"

"Sorry," Jerome smiled sheepishly, holding her hand with both of his, he looked down at their entwined fingers "It's just now, you're all I think about. I memorise your eyes, you're touch," he slid his thumb over her palm "Every word you say, and I can't help but notice things," his tone lightened by the end, almost teasing

"Oh, and what do you notice?" Mara smiled

"You love me," he admitted, Mara laughed

"What's gotten into you?"

"Sorry," Jerome stood, "This place makes me weird, sorry,"

"Do you know how many times you've said sorry?"

"Sorry," he smacked himself lightly on the forehead "There I go again,"

"This places brings out people's insecurities," came a voice, Mara stood and turned to see Poppy walking in.

"Oh," Mara walked over to Jerome, holding his hand, he squeezed back gratefully

"I didn't know you had any insecurities Poopy," Jerome smirked sarcastically

"Ha ha, at least now I know what yours is,"

"Oh," Jerome nodded, swiping a hand through his hair "And what might that be?"

"Your insecurity is you're afraid Mara doesn't love you," You could almost hear the laughter in Poppy's voice.

"Poppy," Mara scolded "It's rude to eaves drop," Poppy almost looked guilty, before noticing Jerome's sideways winning smile.

Poppy-1 Jerome-1

Line Break

"You three spend a lot of your time in those woods," John remarked as they ate lunch in the garden at the picnic table.

They all muttered things at the same time and he laughed lightly. "You're all a bit old to be playing games aren't you?"

Again, they only muttered a few words under their breaths. "Mara?"John tried again "What exactly do you do out there?"

Mara blushed, and she could feel everyone's eyes on hers "Well…" she began "We, play…hide and seek."

"Hide and seek?" John repeated as if he hadn't heard right

"Yeah," Jerome piped up "We all love hide and seek." It amused him slightly how terrible Mara actually was at lying, it was something he would teach her to get it better at.

"My favourite game." Poppy bit out through gritted teeth

"Well maybe next time I can come along."

"NO!" the all cried in unison. He stared at them, amused, before nodding

"I get, kid time."

Line Break

"I did not!" she laughed, leaning back on her hands in Jerome's room, settled on the floor on the carpet.

"You did," Jerome laughed from beside her "All the time, I was dying inside,"

"Jerome," she smiled "Was I really that bad?"

"To anyone else, you were fine. But to me, Mick was pretty much the only thing you said."

"Jealousy,"

"Jealously is flattering, its proof I like you,"

"Jealousy," Mara repeated, feeling the way it rolled of her tongue "You know, I've never truly experienced that,"

"Really," Jerome sat on his knees, offering her the packet of marsh mellows, Mara took one, as he followed suit, popping one into his mouth "Well, that's a good thing right?" his voice was lower, as he chewed "Why would you want to?"

"Well you know," Mara shrugged, swallowing the marsh mellow "I want to experience every single emotion,"

"I still don't see the need,"

"Yeah well…you're Jerome," he laughed loudly at her, throwing a marsh mellow in her direction.

"The one and only,"

Sorry, real writers block, any ideas PLEASE tell me,

Hope you enjoyed it

Sorry if Jerome was a bit OOC at the beginning, I hope he came to at the end

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